A Conversation with Elizabeth
1998
Wonder Drug

From:          Elizabeth  
To:            LMixson@PEC.com
Sent:          Monday, May 4, 1998 12:34 PM
Subject:       Wonder Drug
 
I'm pleased your dinner party went well.  Quite an undertaking.  Do you have leftovers? How did the tofu dessert turn out--I'm a little skeptical after some experiments I've done.
 
I'm curious about the drug. I'm hoping you remember to get me the name.  I'm taking Voltaren--generic.  I was on Cataflam.  They are both diclofenac--but one is a sodium version, one a potassium version.  I don't know what the difference is therapeutically, and can't seem to find out in the drug literature.  Anyway, my physician approved the switch. I still plan to investigate the glucosamine, which is the non-drug drug used in Europe.
 
There is a program going on here in Alabama in which if you have arthritis in one knee, they will pay you 450.00 to take part in a study. I thought about calling, but I don't really have time to fool with it. 
Also, I might get the placebo.  I finally did get the Rx hassel straightened out--just in time to coincide with my knee getting spontaneously better.  The Rx was still 58.00, but I got 60 pills instead of less than 30 for the same price.  I haven't tried it yet, as my knee has not been bothering me.
 
 I did start a "true" diet last week, by cutting back and actually counting calories, when I realized I had not taken off the pounds I had gained a month or so back.  Since water is the first to go, that may have had an effect on the pressure in my knee.  The 58.00 Rx wiped me out though as I paid my tuition on Thursday and that had already wiped me out.  I didn't even go to the grocery store Sunday, although I have plenty of food anyway. (The insurance program here requires you to fill out papers and submit them for reimbursal, so I had to pay up front.)
 
A strange weekend--my last week of freedom before classes, which start tonight.  (I will have class Mon, Tues, Wed, from 6:30-9:00 p.m.  I don't like the schedule of three days in a row, ut that's what it is and there were no choices).  I went to see Les Mis on Saturday at the 3 dollar show (last matinee which was at 3:45) I really like the theatre where it showed as it is a new one with the tiered balcony seats.  I think the musical Les Mis sort of spoils you for a movie version.  Inadvertantly I kept comparing the two.  Liam was gorgeous though and intense. What I really liked was the view of life during that time period.  I didn't realize that Paris was (?) a walled city.  I saw Les Mis in Birmingham, and also Cats (is that the one you forgot), and saw Phantom in St. Louis at a wonderful old theatre which made the production incredible.  The other musical I've seen fairly recently was Little Saigon, which I saw in Atlanta.  I think Les Mis is my favorite.  I had a special one day's membership at Sam's Club (a discount club) and when I went I bought the album. Later after the movie, when it was cool, I picked at least a couple of quarts of blackberries from a patch I discovered just a short walk from my apartment.  They are a little tart, but I like a few in sweet cereal--because I don't like sweet cereal--and almost all of it is too sweet for me.  Also, I know some simple cobbler dishes. 
 
Incredibly I woke up at 4:00 a.m. on Sunday very full of energy and accomplished quite a bit all day long.  I tackled some "throwing out" projects involving old school notebooks and papers, getting rid of a big box.  I read through a month of old newspapers that I guess will always stack up during finals.  In the spirit of "eating what I have in the house" I made two carrot cake breads from odds and ends. I washed the blackberries so I could freeze them.  Also, I started straightening out an enormous "mess" I have of video tapes without labels--some with.  In doing so I watched an incredible tape by J. Campbell on the Arthurian legends. It was one of three parts--I don't know if I have the others or not.  I learned so much about the Arthur legend and about European pre-history in general.  Arthur did become sort of a Christ-like figure.  When Britain was invaded, Arthur was a person who fought the invasion.  Some of the British fled to Brittany and carried his legend with them and also the notion that "he would return."  Essentially his legend is Celtic.  I got very interested in the subject of the tape, as I had taken French at UA and also, because I loved the professor who was so inspiring, started Old French.  Apparently the early Arthur legends are in Old French.  I got in a "panic" because I thought, "Did you donate those books to GoodWill" but when I got up and checked I haven't.  I made a vow to NEVER get rid of books, which I think I've moved on away from, except for the pablum mysteries I read.  I always seem to return and then regret giving them away, but fortunately I had not.[1]
 
Oh, yes, did you watch Millenium.  I imagine you might have taped it because of your party.  It was bizarre.  I had read it was going to be quite unusual and it was.  I have to confess, I subscribe to T.V. Guide.  I used to miss the "best" of t.v. (is that an oxymoron) because I never knew what was coming on.  The guide allows me to watch what is best and good.  That's how I knew about Merlin, and also about the Millenium episode, which I don't usually watch anymore.
 
Well, I had a good weekend, with the back of my mind intent to enter the week somewhat more organized and "in control" which I think I managed.  I even got to work 5 minutes early today. 
 
There is a computer system in today's paper for 800.00, with monitor.  Prices are dropping, dropping. 
 
Elizabeth

[1] Upon reading this I had visions of her house with books piled everywhere, on end tables, the coffee table, chairs, bookcases overflowing, her sitting there in a chair, under a dim light, reading a book.

K.A.